emergence of the polis Flashcards
Polis
Emerged by 700 BC;
70-80 polis circa 700 BCs - proliferated gradually to 300 due to settlement overseas
Basic unit of government in ancient Greece
NO political nation of Greece, but polis
[disunity]
One effect of the mountains;
mountain terrain with internal barriers helped compartmentalize Greece into polis
Polis are their own countries;
- all spoke the same languages, had the same religions, etc BUT they were citizens of a “different country” with no civil rights in a different polis
- cannot become a different polis citizen or marry into one
- polis had their own army and government
Polis emerged with control of a local farming plain (or half, shared with rival polis);
countryside villages around the plain were citizens of the polis even if they live far away
What was the home territory of the polis Athens?
Attica;
1000 square mile territory
Aristrokratia
Polis government of 700 BC
Monopoly on power
Triangle like socioeconomic classes;
- (top class) Aristoi 20>%
- (middle class) 50<%
- (lower class) The poor 30>%
[omitting women and slaves]
Aristoi
Those credited with noble blood, compromising the highest socio economic class of Greece population in 700BC
Did voting around a table in the political process
Held seats on ruling council
Held executive offices such as treasurers and warleaders
Acted as courtroom judges
Wealth came from hereditary ownership and renting of broad tracts of land, even whole villages;
NOT personal farming
- Land leased to tenant farmers that would live in cabins on the property
- Rights were given to the tenant to farm specific portions of land (but NOT own)
- Tenant paid 1/3rd of grain harvest (600s-700BC) to the landlord; leaving him with 2/3rds - 1/3 to plant next Autumn and 1/3 for food as bread and porridge
Privilege of noble blood
Preserved blood purity through endogamy (marriage within the genos);
rule of all Genos in 700s-600s BC
What are the organs of aristrokratia rule?
Boulē
Executives - or officials or office holders or magistrates
Ekklēsia
Where did the wealth of the Aristoi come from?
CIRCA 700 BC
Wealth came from hereditary ownership and renting of broad tracts of land, even whole villages;
NOT for their own personal farming
- Land leased to tenant farmers that would live in cabins on the property
- Rights were given to the tenant to farm specific portions of land (but NOT own)
- Tenant paid 1/3rd of grain harvest to the landlord; leaving him with 2/3rds - 1/3 to plant next Autumn and 1/3 for food as bread and porridge
What made someone an aristos?
Born with privilege of noble blood
Wealth
What was the boulē of the polis like in aristokratia?
700 BC;
Boulē ruled the polis
20-100 councillors met in meeting chamber;
councillors were representative members of the city’s ruling families
Councillors were elected by vote among the ruling families or by a system of rotation
NOT by votes of the citizens
They deliberated among themselves and votes around the table to pass laws for the city and make executive decisions on:
- infrastructure
- taxation
- initiating war
- (example) penalty for accidental homicide..
Once a week they sat as courtroom judges, acting as supreme court
What was the ruling clan of Mytline in Lesbos?
Penthilids
Ancestor: Penthilius
Son of Orestes, led colonist from mainland Greece to Lesbos in the generation after the Trojan War
What did the names of genos come from?
Announcing their mythical ancestors
Advertising land ownership
Advertising horse ownership
What was the ruling clan of Samos?
Geomoroi
Those who share the land
What was the ruling clan of Chalais?
Hippobotai
Horse owners
What was the ruling clan of Eretria?
Hippeis
Horsemen
What was the ruling clan of Athens?
Eupatridai
Sons of the noble born fathers
Ekklēsia under aristokratia
Mass of city’s male citizens (rich AND poor) were called out from homes in the town / countryside to attend assembly
Passive assembly;
- Asking questions
- No voting
- Only told whats what
- No questioning judgement
